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Tag: Shavkat Rakhmonov

  • Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad

    Fellow UFC Welterweight Claims Shavkat Rakhmonov Will Be ‘Exposed’ By Belal Muhammad

    Joaquin Buckley is fighting in the UFC 307 prelims against Stephen Thompson. The welterweight matchup is expected to be a back-and-forth striking brawl, leaving many disappointed it didn’t make it to the main card.

    With four straight wins in the welterweight division, Buckley is aiming to secure a title shot as quickly as possible. A win over “Wonderboy” would undoubtedly boost and place him in the top 10.

    The current title challenger at welterweight is most likely Shavkat Rakhmonov, though. As per Buckley, the undefeated prospect with a 100% finish rate is not as skilled as fans believe and will be soundly beaten by Belal Muhammad…

    Joaquin Buckley Claims His Wins Over Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Teammates Are Why “Nomad” Ducked Him

    Buckley appeared in an interview on the Inside Fighting YouTube channel and discussed his next fight alongside the state of the UFC welterweight division.

    “New Mansa” gave the new welterweight kingpin his props, appreciating his work ethic and long road to the title. However, he’s not a fan of Rakhmonov, who’s potentially Muhammad’s first defense.

    Buckley revealed he offered to fight “Nomad” when Jack Della Maddalena had to pull out, but the offer was declined. He also boasts wins over members of the Kill Cliff FC team, where Rakhmonov trains.

    The welterweight compared Rakhmonov’s durability to early Vicente Luque but expects the hype to fade once the Kazakh fighter faces elite competition like Muhammad.

    “Because he knew there was a risk that I beat the majority of his teammates that he trains with. That yes, that we got the number on the whole Kill Cliff can over there. So, I just don’t think Shavkat is as good as people claim. But you know, I feel like he definitely going to get exposed eventually, you know. If that’s not by me, that’s definitely going to be by Belal.”

    For now, Buckley’s focus is on getting past a tough veteran in “Wonderboy”, a nightmare for most fighters on the feet.

  • Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson On Shavkat Rakhmonov Lie That Got Under His Skin

    Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson On Shavkat Rakhmonov Lie That Got Under His Skin

    Stephen Thompson recently disclosed the one fib from Shavkat Rakhmonov that truly irked him after their matchup.

    “Wonderboy” is gearing up to square off against Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight clash on the preliminary card of UFC 307, scheduled for October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Thompson is set to make his comeback to the Octagon after a 10-month hiatus, having not competed since his second-round submission defeat to the unbeaten Rakhmonov at UFC 296 in December 2023.

    In the lead-up to their clash, both fighters had agreed to engage exclusively in striking. However, Rakhmonov chose to grapple and ultimately secured a swift victory.

    While Thompson respects the 29-year-old Kazakh fighter’s skills, he feels disheartened by his opponent’s attempt to rationalize his change in approach, claiming he suffered a serious ankle injury before their bout despite having promised to prove he was the superior striker.

    Thompson Critiques Rakhmonov & Team For Justifying Change In Strategy After Their Bout

    During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Thompson reflected on his defeat to Rakhmonov, voicing his dissatisfaction with “Nomad’s” coach, Henri Hooft, for attempting to explain the decision to pursue takedowns during the fight.

    “Wonderboy” noted that he recalls Hooft making similar remarks following his bout against Gilbert Burns at UFC 264.

    “It was funny because afterward the same coach as Gilbert Burns, and after the Gilbert Burns fight, the coach came up and was like, ‘I’m sorry the fight was boring, but that’s the only way to beat you,’” Thompson said. “He said the same thing after the Shavkat fight.”

    Thompson acknowledged that grappling is an integral aspect of the sport and emphasized that he should have been better prepared for it. However, he expressed disappointment that Rakhmonov didn’t honor his commitment to keep their bout strictly to striking.

    “So I knew that’s what they were planning on. He was not planning to strike with me. He wanted to hem me up, get me to the floor, and submit me, which he did very well. That’s part of the game. I’ve got to be ready for that. But especially after the fight, they’re saying that. You can say that during the fight to get me thinking one thing, but after the fight, you’re saying, ‘I was going to strike with the guy, but I hurt my ankle.’ Nah, dude. It got me a little bit. Very few things frustrate me — that got me a little bit. Just admit it.”

    “Wonderboy” once enjoyed an impressive seven-fight win streak. However, since his title rematch loss to Tyron Woodley at UFC 209 in March 2017, the 41-year-old South Carolina native has struggled to reclaim his former glory. In his last 10 bouts, he has tallied a disappointing record of 4-6.

    • Read More: Stephen Thompson Reacts To Being On UFC 307 Prelims After Fighting On Main Cards For A Decade Straight
  • ‘The Blueprint’s Out’ – Sean Strickland’s Coach To Belal Muhammad On Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov

    ‘The Blueprint’s Out’ – Sean Strickland’s Coach To Belal Muhammad On Beating Shavkat Rakhmonov

    Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards to become the new UFC welterweight champion at UFC 304. As the first UFC champion from Palestine, he’s naturally become a lot more popular lately and fans are finally getting behind him as he trolls other UFC fighters.

    Muhammad has won eleven fights in a row now. Unlike Merab Dvalishvili who was presented with Umar Nurmagomedov as soon as he won the UFC bantamweight title, the welterweight kingpin has yet to confirm his first title defense.

    Unless he fights Kamaru Usman in a title eliminator first, undefeated prospect Shavkat Rakhmonov is expected to challenge Muhammad. While discussing the matchup, Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick revealed how Rakhmonov doesn’t seem invincible anymore…

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Appreciates Geoff Neal, Who Beat Belal Muhammad, For Fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov The Perfect Way

    Muhammad recently opened up about the current state of the UFC welterweight division on the Verse Us with Eric Nicksick podcast. Unsurprisingly, he acknowledged the undefeated Rakhmonov with a 100% finish rate as his first potential title defense.

    Nicksick, who coaches Sean Strickland, gave “Nomad” his props but highlighted that Geoff Neal has already revealed the best way to beat him. Although ‘Handz of Steel’ lost via third-round submission, he landed several good shots on Rakhmonov.

    The key for Neal was maintaining distance and movement. He avoided getting into a clinch with Rakhmonov as the latter quickly threw knees and elbows in that position. Whenever “Nomad” landed a good shot, Neal made sure to move out of range instead of letting his opponent do more damage in the pocket or secure a takedown.

    Here are Nicksicks’s two cents on how Muhammad should approach the Rakhmonov matchup:

    “Shavkat’s the kind of boogeyman waiting in the closet. You’re like, oh s**t, what do I do? But the blueprint’s there, right? Geoff Neal fought him very well. I think you know what I mean. I think, I think the blueprint’s out.”

    The coach also explained how Muhammad’s tendency to make his opponents uncomfortable by targeting the holes in their games has worked wonders:

    “That’s the whole point we talked about in the Leon Edwards fight and the matchup is, you have more tools in the toolbox, right? And when you sit down and you break, lay out a game plan. It’s, I don’t, you’re not trying to beat the guy at what he’s best at, so how do I exploit what he’s not good at?

    Of course, Neal was successful against Rakhmonov also because he’s as tough as it gets. However, as per Nicksick, someone like Muhammad who relies a lot on decoding his opponents by watching footage can benefit greatly by analyzing Neal’s performance.

    Interestingly, Neal is the last fighter to beat Muhammad. “Handz of Steel’ defeated the current champ via TKO in 2019 and now, he could indirectly help “Remember the Name” with his first title defense.

  • ‘I’m Team Belal Muhammad’ – Gilbert Burns Extends Support For UFC Welterweight Champ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

    ‘I’m Team Belal Muhammad’ – Gilbert Burns Extends Support For UFC Welterweight Champ Against Shavkat Rakhmonov

    For the first time in his pro MMA career, Gilbert Burns has two consecutive losses on his record. He lost a decision to Belal Muhammad after getting injured early in the fight, followed by a late TKO loss to Jack Della Maddalena.

    Despite the losses, fans aren’t overlooking Burns as he takes on Sean Brady this weekend. Brady’s last loss came against Muhammad as well, but he bounced back by submitting Kelvin Gastelum in December 2023.

    Burns is hopeful about beginning another title run at welterweight by beating Brady, and he wants Muhammad to be the champion until he reaches the belt again…

    Gilbert Burns Praises Belal Muhammad’s Approach As Champion While Hoping To Get His Rematch

    Burns talked about his ambition to get another chance at becoming the UFC welterweight kingpin in an interview with MMA Junkie recently. He naturally needs to get past Brady first and hopes that Muhammad beats Shavkat Rakhmonov to remain champion.

    “Durinho” not only wants to get his rematch but also likes how Muhammad has carried himself since becoming champ. For instance, “Remember the Name” aims to move up a weight class only after fighting all top contenders at welterweight.

    Burns acknowledged that he’s trained with Rakhmonov quite a few times when they share camps. However, he’ll still be backing Muhammad to win as it’s the most ideal scenario for his rematch.

    “I want Belal to stay champion when I fight for the title, you know, that’s my goal and then get the rematch for the title. That would be great so I’m team Belal Muhammad, you know, I want this guy to keep winning and then whenever I’m there, that’s the guy that I’m facing.”

    The former title challenger also talked about how things have changed in the UFC welterweight division after Kamaru Usman’s dominant reign ended. He praised Muhammad for wanting to fight Rakhmonov over Usman as the former kingpin has now lost three UFC fights in a row.

    “I like that Belal is being a good champion, you know, he said he wants to fight, face the number one contender guys, before thinking on moving up or moving, you know, fighting another champion. I like that, that’s my, that was my go-to you know. Go over there, beat the number one fighters, keep beating these guys and especially he, you know, he need to make that fan base, you know. He needs to make the fans excited. He’s doing a great job right now the way he talks and I think he’s gonna be a great champion.

    Because he’s been saying the right things and wants to give his division’s contenders opportunities, Burns totally supports Muhammad to remain the champ for at least a year or two. Unsurprisingly, he would want to fight Muhammad again at his best and grab a UFC belt for the first time in his career.

  • Belal Muhammad Chooses Shavkat Rakhmonov Over Kamaru Usman For Title Defense: ‘Looks Exactly Like The Leon Fight…’

    Belal Muhammad Chooses Shavkat Rakhmonov Over Kamaru Usman For Title Defense: ‘Looks Exactly Like The Leon Fight…’

    There has been a lot of conversation over the past week about whether there will be a surprise next contender for the welterweight title.

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is the clear top pick to challenge Belal Muhammad next and according to him, he was already offered the fight but it didn’t come together.

    Some have debated whether Kamaru Usman’s pedigree in the sport and strong relationship with the UFC could be enough for him to get the next shot despite the fact he is winless in his last three Octagon appearances.

    The champion himself gave his thoughts on this where he clarified why in his opinion, Rakhmonov is next in line.

    Belal Muhammad Says Kamaru Usman Misses Out Because Of Taking UFC 294 Opportunity

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Muhammad gave his thoughts on who he believes he will be fighting next.

    Along with one option being more credible because of their current form, the champion also believes that fans would look to detract from his achievements if he were to defeat Usman, which means he finds himself more motivated to go the opposite way.

    “Remember The Name” went with the consensus opinion that Rakhmonov deserves the opportunity but rather than totally disregarding Usman, he explained why in his opinion, “The Nigerian Nightmare” isn’t the front-runner at this time.

    “I think it would just be, for me, if Usman didn’t lose to Khamzat and take that fight, but people forget it was a short notice fight, that would be the fight because he only lost to Leon. But, now he lost three in a row, I think he would need another win. So for me now, it’s all right, Shavkat is the boogeyman that they all think is unbeatable and now I’m getting freaking a thousand comments on my Instagram page anytime I post anything, from the ‘Shavkatians’, so yeah I think for me, it would be another one of those tests to prove people wrong, to shut them up right.

    “My last five or six fights, everybody thought I was gonna get killed, they thought I was gonna lose so he’s another guy that I go out there and I smash him, what’s your excuse gonna be? If I go out there and I beat Usman, it’s like, ‘Well he’s on a three-fight losing streak, he’s done, he has no knees, you just beat a bum.’ But if I go out there and I beat Shavkat, they’re gonna be like what? Nothing. He was undefeated, he has all finishes so now that’s the guy that I’m putting my sights on.”

    Muhammad also broke down how he sees the fight against Rakhmonov playing out when they do eventually meet inside the Octagon.

    He said that this fight will look similar to his title-winning display at UFC 304 and referenced his win over Sean Brady to explain why he believes he will be the one to hand the unbeaten contender his first loss.

    “Honestly I think it looks exactly like the Leon fight. I think I dominate him everywhere. For me, I have a different style every single fight.

    “Shavkat looks like he’s not uncomfortable now because he’s undefeated but these undefeated guys, like I dealt with with Sean Brady, I know how to make them uncomfortable and once I make them uncomfortable, I know how to break them.”

    Read also: Belal Muhammad Claims Kamaru Usman Is A Harder Fight Than Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘One Of The Best IQs In The Game’

  • Belal Muhammad Claims Kamaru Usman Is A Harder Fight Than Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘One Of The Best IQs In The Game’

    Belal Muhammad Claims Kamaru Usman Is A Harder Fight Than Shavkat Rakhmonov: ‘One Of The Best IQs In The Game’

    Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards via unanimous decision at UFC 304 to win the UFC welterweight championship. Many expected Edwards to defend the title comfortably, but Muhammad out-struck the champ and secured over 12 minutes of control time with nine takedowns.

    There’s no shortage of contenders for the new champion at welterweight. While Gilbert Burns, Ian Garry, and Jack Della Maddalena are potentially one good win away from a title shot, Shavkat Rakhmonov is seen as the clear contender since his submission of Stephen Thompson.

    Rakhmonov, with his 100% finish rate, is one of the most intimidating prospects in the UFC, but Muhammad thinks that Kamaru Usman will be a tougher fight for him…

    Belal Muhammad Calls Kamaru Usman The Toughest Fight In UFC Welterweight Division Over Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, And Others

    Muhammad recently discussed his first title defense on the Submission Radio YouTube channel. Despite constantly trolling Usman since winning the title, he admitted that Rakhmonov deserves a title shot most. The former UFC welterweight kingpin, in his opinion, needs to get back into the win column after losing three fights in a row.

    Muhammad doesn’t underestimate Usman as an opponent, though. He acknowledges that the “Nigerian Nightmare” has a ton of experience fighting top-level competition and is one of the smartest fighters inside the Octagon.

    Here’s how the champ responded when asked about the tougher opponent between Rakhmonov and Usman:

    “Honestly, I would say Kamaru. Just because he’s fought the highest level for so long. And, stylistically, he has one of the best IQs in the game. So, I think, for me, fighting somebody with the close to an IQ of myself would be a harder fight.”

    “Remember the Name” also looked back at Usman’s short-notice bout against Khamzat Chimaev. Like many, he was impressed by the former UFC welterweight kingpin’s performance against “Borz” and believes the fight could’ve gone the other way if there were two more rounds.

    Like Usman, Muhammad claimed that MMA fans usually forget how good fighters are as soon as they lose a fight.

    “He still has tread on his tires. People will sit there and say, like, you said, people must have forgot, right? And its, people are quick to forget about you but he fought that fight with Khamzat on eight days’ notice and it was a game of inches in that fight, right? It could, if it was two more rounds in there, I would’ve been very interested to see how it would have went.”

  • Robert Whittaker Explains Why UFC Could Gift Welterweight Title Shot To Former Champion: ‘A Lot Of Balls In His Court’

    Robert Whittaker Explains Why UFC Could Gift Welterweight Title Shot To Former Champion: ‘A Lot Of Balls In His Court’

    Kamaru Usman could be back in the mix at the top of the welterweight division despite the fact that he has lost his last three fights inside the Octagon.

    The former welterweight champion may be without a win since he lost the title in his second fight with Leon Edwards but he has other factors that make him a credible contender.

    Shavkat Rakhmonov may be the clear option on paper but the undefeated finisher doesn’t have the same pedigree and longstanding relationship with the UFC.

    The relationship that Usman has built up with the promotion was on full display at UFC 294, where he stepped in to fight Khamzat Chimaev up a weight class on short notice.

    Robert Whittaker believes that this puts him in a strong position to get the title shot.

    Robert Whittaker Says Kamaru Usman’s UFC 294 Save Puts Him On Good Terms With The UFC

    Whittaker isn’t the first to suggest that Usman may be more likely to get the first shot at Belal Muhammad, it would appear.

    Rakhmonov has already stated that he was offered to fight Muhammad at UFC 307 but the fight didn’t get signed because the champion couldn’t make that turnaround after winning the title at the end of July.

    On a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his thoughts on whether “The Nigerian Nightmare” will be able to secure this fight after what he has done for the UFC in the past.

    “I think after Usman stepped in to fight Chimaev on a week’s notice, I feel like that’s a lot of balls in his court. I feel like that’s a lot of weight cuz that’s pretty ballsy, it was a pretty good fight. I don’t know, I wouldn’t be terribly upset if he gets a title shot.”

    Whittaker’s co-host on the podcast, Jonny Roses, referenced how after that fight at UFC 294, Dana White went into the Octagon to thank Usman for taking this fight on short notice.

    “The Reaper” responded by saying that though he can see Usman getting a title shot or an eliminator, he doesn’t think the promotion will want to do what is best for Muhammad.

    “It’s hard to say, I can see them giving it to Usman because of that but Usman hasn’t been in for a long time. I could also say I can also see them fighting Shavkat for that reason but I can’t see UFC doing Belal too much of a solid in terms of matching up his hardest opponents together, you know what I mean. I don’t think he’s earned that credit strip yet.”

    Read also: Gilbert Burns Makes Retirement Admission Ahead Of UFC Return: ‘I’m Getting Freaking Old’

  • Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Trusts UFC’s Meritocracy To Prevent Conor McGregor Title Shot Hijack, Reveals Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Date

    Shavkat Rakhmonov hasn’t put a foot wrong during his ascent up the welterweight ladder towards a title shot.

    With a undefeated record and all of his wins coming via finish, the 170-pound contender appears to be set up to challenge Belal Muhammad for the belt next time out. unless something unexpected occurs.

    The UFC has been known to temporarily swerve the rankings if it means putting something big together and when you’re talking big in MMA, there’s no one larger than Conor McGregor.

    Despite there being no rescheduled date for his welterweight return against Michael Chandler, “The Notorious” returning with a win could completely change the top of the weight class.

    Rakhmonov spoke in a recent interview with MMA Fighting about how he believes the promotion will do right by him even in the instance that “The Mac” is back in the mix.

    “He’s been getting ready to fight a long time but wasn’t able to do that yet so in my head, I don’t even think about him winning this one fight in three years is going to do something. I understand he’s a big star but in my head, I don’t see it being possible. I believe UFC is the best and the most fair organization so I believe they’re gonna do everything right.”

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Reveals That Belal Muhammad Turned Down UFC 307 Title Fight

    Though there has been some debate over whether Rakhmonov will definitely be the next title challenger for Muhammad, the contender answered this question all by himself.

    He revealed during the same interview that he has already been offered the title shot but it didn’t come to fruition due to the champion not being able to make a 70-day turnaround to fight at elevation in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Alex Pereira will be headlining UFC 307 instead, which always seemed to be an optimistic target for Muhammad after he won the belt at the end of July.

    “Yeah, actually I had already been offered to fight Belal and I accepted the fight against Belal but unfortunately, he declined to fight me due to the timing issues, he wasn’t ready to defend his belt on that time. So, we’ll see what’s gonna happen and when he’s gonna be ready so I will be able to fight him. Before he became a champion and after he won the belt, he said he’s gonna be an active champion and he will defend his belt more often but at the moment, he isn’t backing up what he said so let’s see what’s going to happen, when he’s going to be ready to fight me.”

    Read also: Khalil Rountree Says He Would Fire His Coaches If They Insisted He Grapple Alex Pereira

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Kamaru Usman Can Hijack Title Shot: UFC Not Ready For Muhammad vs Rakhmonov Presser

    Chael Sonnen Feels Kamaru Usman Can Hijack Title Shot: UFC Not Ready For Muhammad vs Rakhmonov Presser

    When Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion at UFC 304, there was a common consensus for who his first challenger would be.

    At 18-0 with all finishes, Shavkat Rakhmonov currently holds the #3-ranking at 170-pounds and is a huge threat to anyone in the division.

    There is, however, another contender that is still ranked above Rakhmonov despite the fact that he has lost his last three fights.

    Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman was beaten by Edwards in consecutive fights before taking a short notice opportunity against Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

    Though he may be lacking some momentum right now, Usman was a dominant champion whose name still carries a lot of weight, which could be enough to see him jump back into the title picture.

    Chael Sonnen Says Kamaru Usman Needs To Push For Welterweight Title Shot Because He’s So Close

    In a recent YouTube video, Chael Sonnen was very keen to push just how close Usman is to the title shot for a number of reasons.

    He said that he needed to come out and say this after “The Nigerian Nightmare” had called out Rakhmonov when in reality, he should be trying to get the title shot instead because it’s possible.

    Sonnen made reference to how despite both men having fanbases away from the usual US audience of the UFC, the promotion might have some doubts about having Muhammad and Rakhmonov headline an event – which Usman can use to better his case.

    With Usman being a much more familiar face, he could jump in front of Rakhmonov thanks to his name and pedigree even if his fellow contender is much more deserving based on current form.

    “He is right there about to get Belal, I mean he is right there. There is only one guy even in discussion that might nudge him out and that is Rakhmonov and it’s wildly important that they get this figured out. If Rakhmonov nudges him out, there’s probably not going to be another time that Kamaru’s going to be needed.

    “This is the time, he’s got to beat him. Rakhmonov has got to shine himself up just a little bit more. The UFC, no matter how big it is and no matter what the fan base is, is not ready for a press conference with Muhammad and Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman has got to push that narrative. I’m only sharing that because he is this close and at one point he didn’t know it.”

    Read also: Former Opponent Reveals He Perfectly Predicted ‘Randy Couture Style’ Welterweight Title Win For Belal Muhammad At UFC 304

  • ‘Shame To Ask For A Title Shot’ – Shavkat Rakhmonov Rejects Kamaru Usman’s Case To Fight Belal Muhammad For UFC Welterweight Championship

    ‘Shame To Ask For A Title Shot’ – Shavkat Rakhmonov Rejects Kamaru Usman’s Case To Fight Belal Muhammad For UFC Welterweight Championship

    Shavkat Rakhmonov is easily one of the most hyped prospects in the UFC due to his undefeated record and 100% finish rate. His 18 pro wins include ten submissions and eight knockouts.

    Even in the UFC, Rakhmonov has racked up six consecutive finishes without much trouble. After submitting Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Stephen Thompson, he’s now waiting to face Belal Muhammad for the UFC welterweight championship.

    Here’s what Rakhmonov thinks of other welterweights like Kamaru Usman asking for a title shot and how he plans to defeat the champion…

    Shavkat Rakhmonov Brings Up Kamaru Usman’s Three Consecutive Losses To Deny His Title Shot Against Belal Muhammad

    Rakhmonov recently appeared on the Submission Radio YouTube channel to discuss his future in the UFC. He seems certain about fighting for UFC welterweight gold next and highlighted that no one in the division deserves it more.

    Talking about Usman, “Nomad” pointed out that the former UFC welterweight kingpin has lost three UFC fights in a row. This includes two losses to Leon Edwards and a decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight. So, he expects the “Nigerian Nightmare” to get back in the win column before fighting for the title again.

    Based on the translation provided by Submission Radio, here’s what Rakhmonov said about Usman:

    “Yeah, I don’t know what he’s thinking about, like, I think it’s kind of shame to ask for a title shot after losing three fight straight. Like, in my head, I cannot get my head around it. But, yeah, it is what it is.”

    Rakhmonov also suggested that Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Garry should fight in a title eliminator next. If he beats Muhammad, he looks forward to defending the title for the first time against one of these opponents.

    “There’s few good guys in the division who are very close to title shot. I can say that Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Garry. And maybe they should fight each other and the winner should be next for the title after me.”

    All in all, Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov for the UFC welterweight title looks all but confirmed. The challenger has admitted to being ready for a fight anytime in 2024, so the UFC might announce the final date once the champion confirms his availability.

  • Belal Muhammad On If Kamaru Usman Or Shavkat Rakhmonov Gets Next UFC Welterweight Title Shot: ‘I Think He’s Still Got Tread In The Tyres…’ 

    Belal Muhammad On If Kamaru Usman Or Shavkat Rakhmonov Gets Next UFC Welterweight Title Shot: ‘I Think He’s Still Got Tread In The Tyres…’ 

    Newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad sees the merits of facing both Kamaru Usman and Shavkat Rakhmonov for his first title defense.

    Muhammad finds himself on the throne after making the most of his first shot at glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage late last month. “Remember the Name” crossed the pond to challenge Leon Edwards at the UFC 304 pay-per-view event in Manchester, England.

    Amid a hostile reception, Muhammad delivered on his promise to emphatically unseat “Rocky” in the main event, utilizing his grappling and ever-improving striking to control large parts of the five-round contest en route to a comfortable decision win.

    As is always the case following a title win, talk has quickly turned to the welterweight division’s next championship matchup and who could be the first to test Muhammad’s reign.

    The champ has a ‘bring one, bring them all’ mindset…

    Muhammad Asked To Choose Between Usman, Rakhmonov

    During a recent interview for ESPN MMA while in Abu Dhabi for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, Muhammad reflected on his championship triumph in Manchester and looked ahead to what could be next for him inside the Octagon.

    “Remember the Name” acknowledged the benefits that would come with fighting one of the division’s all-time greats in Usman for his first defense, but he also reiterated his desire to take Rakhmonov’s 0.

    “Anyone of them, right? Usman, obviously I think for legacy,” Muhammad said. “He’s one of the biggest names in the division, he’s under GSP, and I think he’s still got tread in the tyres, even though he lost the close fight to Leon and then the really close fight to Khamzat.

    “I think name value, he has the bigger name. But also, I want to fight the boogeyman,” Muhammad continued. “The boogeyman that everybody says can beat anybody, is gonna walk through anybody. … I knew after beating Leon, they would say, ‘Well, Shavkat will walk through him! He can’t do that to Shavkat!’ I’m just gonna keep doing it. … Dana White, you just got to give me the time and date and I’m ready to go.”

    Both “The Nigerian Nightmare” and “Nomad” have been staking their claims for the first shot at Muhammad, with the former most recently having a somewhat heated back and forth with the champ on social media.

    While Usman hasn’t competed at welterweight since falling short against Edwards in their trilogy fight last year, the most recent victory in Rakhmonov’s undefeated run in the weight class came over Stephen Thompson last December.

  • Michael Page Gives Grim Assessment Of Ian Garry’s Title Chances After UFC 303: ‘Leon’s Gonna Kill You…Shavkat’s Gonna Kill You’ 

    Michael Page Gives Grim Assessment Of Ian Garry’s Title Chances After UFC 303: ‘Leon’s Gonna Kill You…Shavkat’s Gonna Kill You’ 

    Having shared the cage with him at UFC 303, Michael “Venom” Page doesn’t see Ian Garry reaching the top of the welterweight division.

    The pair collided in the main card opener of the International Fight Week pay-per-view on June 29 in Las Vegas. The three-round affair was widely branded somewhat lackluster, with the Irishman utilizing his grappling to edge frames one and three on the scorecards.

    The result marked the latest addition to Garry’s undefeated professional record and moved his UFC slate to 8-0, cementing his top 10 spot in the process.

    While “The Future” has confidently expressed that he’ll now move on to focusing on those above him in the pecking order and the title, “MVP” is confident he’ll soon have his résumé blemished…

    Page Didn’t Feel A Future Champion Against Garry At UFC 303

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Page looked back on the defeat he suffered in what marked just his second fight competing on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage following a decade in Bellator.

    The Londoner expressed frustration with his performance inside T-Mobile Arena, suggesting the result was more down to his own shortcomings than Garry’s efforts inside the Octagon.

    With that in mind, Page didn’t feel like he was squaring off against a sure-fire future champion. Far from it, in fact. “Venom” recalled facing someone who would get “killed” by UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards and top contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Not all. No,” Page said when asked if he sees Garry as a future champion. “Because if that’s the game you’re going to (use) when you get a decent striker, then Leon is going to kill you anyway, then Shavkat is going to kill you anyway. There’s a few guys in there that I just don’t see him surpassing. … Even in some of the areas, he didn’t feel massively strong. I’m not even trying to be disrespectful to him, because again, he’s done his job, he was smart about how he kind of went by it. But for me, regardless, this game for me is about combat. It’s about fighting. Not about stealing wins.

    “Even like I said, that last round, I didn’t necessarily need to stand up or need to let him stand up. I could’ve stayed there and just dragged it out and potentially got a better score in the third round and maybe that would’ve swayed it, but that’s not the game I’m in. I’m in a combat game. Like, I want to cause damage, I want to hurt people,” Page continued. “So yeah, I don’t see him progressing to the top. I think he’s talented. I think he’ll always be around there, top 10, top five, and then he’ll keep losing out to certain people. But he is still talented, and obviously he’s got a loads of time to progress and get better anyway.”

    Garry no doubt feels differently, having frequently insisted that a title crowning on MMA’s biggest stage is inevitable. He’ll look to prove that when he returns to action, potentially against one of the names mentioned by Page.

    Post-UFC 303, the Irishman had the name of Rakhmonov on his lips. While he got a positive response from “Nomad,” it remains to be seen if the UFC will share the same outlook and pair them together next.